First trams for stage one of the Gold Coast light rail transit system (GCLRT)

The world’s first trams to be designed and built to include surf board racks

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation today presented the first BOMBARDIERFLEXITY 2 tram for the Gold Coast Light Rail system. At a ceremony to mark the launch of the new branding for operator franchisee, GoldLinQ, Dan Osborne, Managing Director of Bombardier Transportation Australia, introduced the new light rail vehicle to an audience of Gold Coast local officials, dignitaries and community representatives as well as project stakeholders.

The GCLRT project is part of an 18-year public private partnership contract between the Queensland State Government and GoldLinQ. As operator franchisee of stage one of the GCLRT, GoldLinQ, a consortium that includes Bombardier Transportation, is responsible for the design, construction, operations and maintenance. The first phase of the project will connect Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach. The line will be serviced by a fleet of 14 seven-module FLEXITY 2 trams, to be delivered by Bombardier over the next four months.

FLEXITY 2 is the latest tram technology from Bombardier, the market leader in the light rail segment.

After a two-and-a-half-month sea journey, the first two FLEXITY 2 trams for the Gold Coast arrived in the Port of Brisbane on September 10, 2013 and were transported to the depot in complete units, using a specially designed 20 axle steerable trailer. The first tram will undergo testing and commissioning on the first section of the corridor, running from the depot along Queen and Nerang streets to Southport.

A further six trams, built in Germany, are on their way to Australia, with the remaining trams scheduled to be delivered by early 2014. Passenger services on stage one are expected to commence from mid-2014.

Based on Bombardier’s highly successful FLEXITY family of light rail vehicles that combines proven technology with continuous improvement and innovation, the Gold Coast tram has been specifically styled by Bombardier’s Industrial Design team in Brisbane to include a wave motif on the cab front. The tram is 43.4 m long and 2.65 m wide with seven modules for higher capacity and better passenger flow. It features the signature blue and gold colours of the Gold Coast and is the first tram in the world designed and built to carry surf boards on specially designed racks. These trams also feature the most powerful air-conditioning system for this class of tram, suitable for Australia’s hot summers.

As well as having 100% low floor technology for optimal ride comfort, the FLEXITY 2 trams reflect Bombardier’s commitment to sustainability in public transport. The twin benefits of saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions, for example through the integration of the energy efficient BOMBARDIERMITRAC propulsion system, also help reduce operating costs. More than 4,000 Bombardier trams and light rail vehicles are in revenue service or on order in more than 75 cities across Europe, Australia and North America.

About Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation, a global leader in rail technology, offers the broadest portfolio in the rail industry and delivers innovative products and services that set new standards in sustainable mobility. In Australia, Bombardier employs over 800 people to manufacture and maintain a wide range of rolling stock products for urban and suburban operations. Bombardier Transportation is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and has a very diverse customer base with products or services in more than 60 countries. It has an installed base of over 100,000 vehicles worldwide.

About Bombardier

Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of both planes and trains. Looking far ahead while delivering today, Bombardier is evolving mobility worldwide by answering the call for more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable transportation everywhere. Our vehicles, services and, most of all, our employees are what make us a global leader in transportation.

Bombardier is headquartered in Montréal, Canada. Our shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD) and we are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, we posted revenues of $16.8 billion. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.